Ford Focus ST MK2 (Stage 1) Review | Cheap entry into 5 pot ownership!

[@GCMYT]

only the best car going....

[@CarNitty]

Cheers George! Love your ST content as well. Watched a lot of your videos before I ended up buying this exact car. I sold it before I did a "reveal" video but I may borrow it back off the owner 🤣

[@ARDEN440i]

A very fair and straight-up, honest review. Proud to be a subscriber of his super underrated channel

[@CarNitty]

Thank you for your kind words. Appreciate your support and viewership 🙌🏼

[@adyg5402]

Had a lot of torque steer on my Mondeo 2.5L V6 ghia x.The car shredded its front tyres,I had it for 13 years and loved it.Electric everything and lovely to drive.

[@CarNitty]

A car I'd love to get my hands on for a review for sure!

[@CarNitty]

If you're after a 5 pot, would you consider a Focus ST to satisfy your desire? Let me know below! If you liked this video, make sure you like, comment, share and subscribe! Check out some of our other uploads too! 🖤 Please do checkout my Instagram if you want to see more behind the scenes content: instagram.com/car.nitty?

[@braamkotze473]

The gear ratio in that box is the reason the feeling of the car pulling harder than it actually is. The stock ST even feels more powerful in gear than 225hp

[@CarNitty]

It's a shame for a 6 speeds, it feels like a 5 or even a 4 speed at higher speeds!

[@trophy182]

Mines 343bhp,proper sabre tuned car. I’ve practically got rid of the torque steer by fitting a wavetrac LSD and the powerflex anti lift kit. Also revs to 7300 instead of the standard 6500. But a lot a money in to building it but it’s sick👌🏻

[@CarNitty]

Sounds like an absolute animal! Using the 5 pot to it's potential as well as making the shell handle all that power!

[@Kangarillapig]

I actually miss mine , didn’t realise how much I’d miss it until i sold it, bought it low millage pfl 07 standard and spend around 3k to get it to stage 2 (block mod , actuators, intercooler, 3”turbo back exhaust, rs clutch etc etc..approx 320bhp… as mentioned it’s very thirsty if you drive spirited but the fun and the engine noise you get for what these day’s you pay 4/5k… you’ll never beat it… I’m actually thinking of getting another 😅

[@astongrad930]

A new drop, been waiting one for ages and on a car I was once considering. Nice one

[@CarNitty]

Apologies for the wait I know I've been very inactive. I was actually the owner of this car and this was a standalone review before I did my ownership video but then i got a great offer to let the car go before I could do that video!

[@DeanB1980]

you can get the rear electric windows fitted by using the 5 door titanium set up all the wiring is apparently there

[@CarNitty]

Neat thing to know if that's true but how could this not be a thing from factory!

[@DeanB1980]

@@CarNitty i think it was an optional extra i read but it is odd as it wasn't just standard fit especially st3, id get it on st1 & 2 but the 3 shouldve had it

[@connectedtexture]

Very late to these comments. But as an owner of ST225 2010 facelift, i can tell you these are extremely fun cars to drive. I think you gave a perfect review of the true beauty and beast of these cars. One thing i could add to this, is telling whether its mapped. The centre boost gauge is the main indicator as to if its mapped - if stock, the boost gauge will hit halfway, blip every so slightly over, and then hold at 50% the entire way through the gear to 5k until it starts to drop off. However when mapped, it will stay all the way at the top of the boost gauge when on full chat at any RPM. One thing to consider for anyone who has watched this and is considering buying one ;)

[@CarNitty]

Loved owning mine but boy is it thirsty. It's almost as bad as my W204 C63

[@connectedtexture]

@@CarNitty haha yes all depends on the map really. I had a different ST last year which usually got 15-18mpg. My new one with a DreamScience map gets 20-24mpg but it much faster than my last one and has overrun 😅

[@markdunne7]

First time to come across your content. I own a ST225 and think you've done a great job in this review..covered everything,good fly by/sound clips with v.good info 👌

[@CarNitty]

They are very good fun cars. I do miss this car a lot. One of the most fun cars I've ever owned. Even more so than my C63!

[@AdzzVR]

I’d love to get one as a second car if insurance won’t be too insane. The sound alone is worth it for me.

[@CarNitty]

Great cars. Loved owning mine. Just a shame about the fuel bill!

[@PeteVXR]

Fair review mate. My Mk2 Mondeo ST24 had electric everything and run 175bhp, which was good for a large 90s saloon. Loved that car for the 5 years I had it. Was looking at getting the ST MK2 purely for another Duratec engine car and they sound Nice. Switched over tho to a Mk5 Astra VXR and added a few mods last couple of years really gr8 car had it 4+ years now - Always good to have a little Rip with the ST Gang 🔥💣💥

[@CarNitty]

I would definitely recommend an Focus ST MK2 if the fuel bill won't bother you! VXR is a great car also no doubt. Really keen to get one onto the channel

[@LaliladaAnamina]

loved the video! ford gang!

[@joexfitness6395]

Have a black one with rs wing and white defuser , and she runs at 245hp 336nm and let me tell you she is a beast monstrous 5 cylinder .0-60mph 5.7 seconds. 1st 4000rpm 2nd 4500rpm and 3 rd 5200rpm.

[@CarNitty]

These cars are extremely strong. If you're only pushing 245BHP it might perhaps this one was also just 260 but it pulled strong

[@1breematt]

Cool. Is that at the wheel?

[@TommyRbj]

Excellent and honest review. I have black one at stage1 and it's 3 doors (imho 3 doors are sexiest). The main reason why I bought it is the beautiful sound of Volvo 5 pot, I absolutely adore it. 2nd reason is handling through the corners. Thanks for this review. Wish you luck from Croatia. Cheers.

[@CarNitty]

They sound beautiful! Glad you're enjoying your ST!

[@tahirislam107]

Loving the new style of videos, it's giving me Throttle house vibes, can't wait for the next drop!

[@CarNitty]

Glad you enjoyed it. Plenty more to come!

[@marktipton218]

They do three types of heating controls with the ST. They do normal dials they do digital dials and then they do the heat where it’s a full stereo and you operate the heating on the stereo. That’s the better one.

[@rickylaslett3422]

Great review , however if you want something understated and with awd get an S60R this was the car where the RS mk2 engine was derived from . 300bhp with old school turbo lag from a sleeping arm chair 👌🏻

[@CarNitty]

The 5 pot Volvos are great cars!

[@nickd7627]

Just about to buy one and plan on getting it mapped and now upgrading the brakes 🤣 any suggestions for exhaust upgrades or does it not need it? (Mostly for the soundtrack)

[@CarNitty]

This one has a secondary decat and a res delete. I'd gauge that before going after the primary cats

[@m7chaeI]

Looking to get one myself, RS Clutch be the first upgrade for me 😅 but I’ve heard many people say Miltec exhaust system on these are the way to go

[@amanmatharoo5010]

Nice video, one day I want to own one. Got the fiesta st500 atm

[@CarNitty]

Very attainable dream. Hope you get the chance to do this!

[@munkeyhanger2298]

I have same colour and same year I'm getting roughly 22 mpg I'm currently suffering from coolant loss hopefully it's not cracked liners

[@mikefoley6954]

I've got an st2 5 door in performance bkue, had a few bits from mountune. Fuel isn't as bad as that, my average on the dash is 21mpg, such a fun car to drive.

[@CarNitty]

They're exceptionally fun cars to drive!

[@towwwel]

Which exhaust mods does this car have please? Looks like standard exhaust tips but it's definitely louder than stock exhaust and there's more burbles but not over the top like a pop and bang map. I really like the sound and volume. Regarding fuel economy, I'm getting 15 mpg on a series of short journeys (2-3 miles max). Mixed driving I got 23 mpg.

[@CarNitty]

It had a resonator delete and secondary decat removal

[@towwwel]

​@@CarNitty Many thanks. Happy to hear as I was looking at deres on my ST :)

[@ajwest3081]

Ofc if it’s mapped it will be 20mpg or below. Stock it should not drop below 26mpg when hoofing around. Steady motorway speeds gets you 40mpg if you stay off boost - so will be economical if you need it to be on a long run.

[@CarNitty]

Still shockingly low. A MK5 GTI can get 25MPG when stage 2 tuned

[@Mystro-92]

My mk2 st hits 120mph in fourth it's 320bhp but it's the facelift so not sure if they changed the gear ratios compared to the 05-07 preface lift. I always though my red one couldn't reach that speed in 4th .

[@CarNitty]

The gear ratios in an ST are mental! It's definitely geared for performance and being in the right rev range over anything

[@adrianhughes2376]

That's down to the map mine avgs 25 rising to 30 on longer drives

[@CarNitty]

I still find that so hard so believe after my experience of the car! It was an amazing map though

[@1breematt]

That noise is cool when its booted

[@CarNitty]

It has a lovely 5 pot noise that screams through the cabin!

[@MichaelJones-ob3bv]

The MPG is horrendous, I had a stage 2 Orange one and was around 15-22mpg, the RS is even worse, some guys in RSOC who had RS with MP375 tune were getting 5-10mpg, but both cars put a smile on your face, so I didn't care and wasn't a daily. Hoping to get another one soon 🙂.

[@CarNitty]

If you're not using them as a daily then they're awesome cars and a lot of bang for buck

[@Jahmed5635]

Upload more akh!!! Bring back the r32 content too 😅

[@CarNitty]

One dropping today at 6pm!

[@lastexile1187]

Yea theres something very wrong with that MPG figure. It should be around 20mpg even with a lot of stop/start driving. The brakes are actually good on them but you need uprated pads, fluid and braided hoses if you want to do fast road driving. The braking and torque steer (and steering feel) issues would be far better if this car was on something other than cheap shite chinese tyres, ive never understood why people drive performance cars and run them on budget crap tyres? Even a mid range tyre like a Kumho or Hankook would be so much better altogether. Also regarding the lack of interior features like rear electric windows...these cars were meant to be cheap and affordable, im sure if you checked youd find the STs were cheaper than mk5 gtis at the time, possibly even the ST3s, electric rear windows and even built-in window blinds could be optioned in when buying the 5 doors. Regarding the RPM/power band...they run out of puff around 5500 rpm because the standard turbo is tiny on them, with a st hybrid or bigger they can be opened right up, mine can rev to 7500rpm with no issues on a st hybrid turbo setup.

[@CarNitty]

Thanks for your insight into the MK2 ST3

[@l333boa]

Owned a 56 plate st 225 a couple of years back but just didnt get on with it, sold it and bought a mk6 fez st which was much more fun until it went pop 😬😔

[@CarNitty]

The MK6 Fiesta and MK2 Focus are the same generation. I'm surprised you didn't gel with the Focus and you went for the Fiesta

[@VWR7]

I’d have an Astra vxr or focus st over a mk5 gti tbh

[@CarNitty]

They're more enthusiast cars to be honest especially with that manual only option!

[@VWR7]

@@CarNitty if you’re buying a golf it has to be an r

[@CarNitty]

I'm an R32 man so you're preaching to the choir 🙌🏼

[@foanysteve227]

for sure mapped, doesn't sound like that from factory even with a nicer exhaust

[@mic858]

Been a minute, welcome back

[@CarNitty]

Thank you for your kind words. I should be a lot more consistent now!

[@velocity355]

If your boost gauge is touching the red mark then it’s tuned if it’s somewhere close to the centre then it’s not , also compared this to the mk5 gti is a disgrace to the st 🫠 the st is way ahead .

[@CarNitty]

Yep, this car was definitely mapped as it boosted close to the 1.5 bar reading of the turbo. It was such a linear map that's why it was hard to know if it was mapped

[@velocity355]

@@CarNitty I own a facelift 2 door , when I got it it literally felt the same , but mine wasn’t mapped , they’re just quick stock too , I recently mapped it . Yours is definitely mapped

[@deank-td7sh]

C30 t5 is the auto option same motor 🚙

[@1308wayne]

Great review i own one same as the one you are test driving its a fun car to drive 👍 its s--t on petrol but you don't buy them to be good on petrol lol 😂

[@CarNitty]

I thought they'd be decent since they're one cylinder and 0.5l displacement down as well as a turbo to be better than my R32 at the time but I couldn't be more wrong

[@liam6488]

Mpg are really bad on these mk2. St. I knew a divery driver who was useing one. 😂😂😂😂 but mpg is average 15 to 18mpg. Think motorway 32mpg . My megane 225 would do 28mpg and 43mpg long run.

[@CarNitty]

These 5 pots are seriously poor on fuel but I think it's to do with the gearbox ratio where the boost is always readily available

[@liam6488]

@@CarNitty there just same mpg as rs6 . Svr. C63. Etc . . I suppose you could do a video on see how much 20 pound gets you ina st . . 🤣🤣🤣

[@CarNitty]

That would be a very scary video. Don't think I'll make it down the road with the ST 🤣

[@Saturntabbytype2]

Hope you kept the speed limit the elite are watching.

[@CarNitty]

No laws are broken during the filming of my content.

[@Saturntabbytype2]

@@CarNitty it’s their law anyway , just speed up the filming , yeah and put deeper sound effects over that 0.9 eco boost you drove , haha

[@joeyhill9187]

Megane sport astra vxr and the gti can't even compare with the st

[@CarNitty]

ST truly is a beast in this category!

[@BOXING-q2u]

Totally horrendous on fuel i had a audi 3.2quattro that did miles better mpg. Plant your foot and watch the needle drop

[@CarNitty]

You can literally see the needle move on the ST. I too found my R32 to be better on fuel as well

[@simonpalmer8033]

Heard....more better, moving on.

[@magicmonkeyist]

They're great until you have to do cambelt and water pump, clutch and new tyres at the same time. 💸 💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸💸

[@CarNitty]

Haha that's with any car requiring lots of work one one go!

[@magicmonkeyist]

@@CarNitty Yeah just unlucky timing. Great car, can't bring myself to part with that 5 pot soundtrack. 👂🏻🎶

[@CarNitty]

Nothing in that budget can get you a 5 pot so amazing value for money

[@glendonaldson3245]

You not a very driver sorry

[@CarNitty]

You're English good very not :)

[@shaunsnyman5107]

This generation focus stood the test of time, where the gti and opel fell out

[@CarNitty]

The astra has definitely not aged that well but still loved due to its uniqueness in the category. The ST definitely has the best powerplant but it's not the best looking whereas the GTI has aged the best and more capable but it's the most boring car out of all of them